Blues gain the upper hand on Predators for third place in Central

Nashville Predators Filip Forsberg takes a skate to the chest from St. Louis Blues Jay Bouwmeester in the first period at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on April 2, 2017. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

Alexander Steen gave the Blues the lead in the second period, David Perron had a goal and two assists, and St. Louis built a two-point lead over Nashville Predators for third place in the Central Division with a 4-1 win on Sunday at Scottrade Center.

Vladimir Tarasenko and Joel Edmundson also scored, and Jake Allen stopped 35 shots. After a mid-season slump, Allen has rebounded to 9-1-2 with two shutouts and 16 goals allowed his past 12 starts.

The Blues earned at least at point for the ninth straight game, going 7-0-2 during that stretch and have four games left on the schedule, while Nashville has just three to play.